Keeping with the theme I cited in an earlier blog--it ain't easy being green--check out the tale of Assistant Managing Editor Caroline McDonald after the RIMS conference. Feel free to weigh in with any of your own war stories about how society doesn't facilitate those eager to preserve the environment.
Going Green Means Being Smart
By Caroline McDonald
With all the attention to green issues everywhere, including at the recent Risk and Insurance Management Society conference, you would think people trying to do their part would get plenty of help and encouragement.
No so with Amtrak in Southern California, I discovered. After the RIMS conference I elected to take the train to Los Angeles from San Diego to visit my three sisters. Simple, right? Take the train instead of renting a car as on previous trips. Good for the environment, good for me—much better than sitting in traffic on the “5” freeway.
I had a pretty good-sized suitcase and a heavy carry-on with my laptop. And I noticed the train made stops at two airports, LAX and Burbank. Besides, when I bought the ticket—a bargain at $29, I was told I could stow my baggage on the bottom level and relax on the top level and enjoy the scenery. Excellent plan.
But when I boarded the train and looked for a spot for suitcases I was told that only the elderly and handicapped were allowed to occupy the bottom level. All other passengers—with their bags—must climb the narrow, steep staircase to the upper level.
“You are kidding me,” I said to the conductor, thinking of my two herniated disks. “No I am not,” he said, “but I will help you push them up the stairs.”
The view of the Pacific Ocean and flower-dotted hills of Southern California were a beauty to behold, but I couldn’t help but shake my head at the nonsense of their system, while observing passenger after passenger maneuver heavy bags up the stairs. FM Global, where are your engineers when we need them?
So while risk managers, the insurance industry, state officials and world leaders create a buzz about “going green” and puzzle over ways to get people to recycle, drive more efficient cars and other various initiatives, I have some advice: It’s the small, practical details that will make or break the best of plans.
If a system makes sense, if it’s needed and useable, it will probably be successful.
And Amtrak execs, I suggest you take a ride on your own train. Oh, and be sure to take along a heavy suitcase or two. After all, I assume you are trying to attract more riders to places like airports and it’s possible that a little practicality wouldn’t hurt.
Comments (2)
Excellent points, Caroline! And those, along with numerous others, are reasons many do not use public transportation in lieu of automobiles.
As an example, my home is within view of a Coaster station for the local commuter rail service--a short five-to-10-minute walk at most. Timing the train is easy, and after a five-minute wait or so, it's only a 30-minute ride to the closest stop to my office.
That's where the enjoyment ends. From there it's a ride on a shuttle that drives all over the area dropping people off, taking up to another 30 minutes to finally drop me off about a block from my office, and then another two- or three-minute walk there.
Total time from home to work is thus about one hour, 20 minutes for a 13-mile trip, or about two hours and 40 minutes round trip.
Driving time is about 20 minutes southbound early morning and about 40 minutes northbound in the evening, or about an hour round trip.
Round trip fare is $9.00, or about the equivalent cost of the fuel for a gas guzzler, if that's what you drive. What's the trade off? Three times the commute time, inconvenience and where are the real savings to anyone?
The point I am trying to make is that it is difficult to "Go Green," and the transit systems are not making it any easier. Their response to higher fuel prices is to cut services and routes, leaving more people to their own transportation vices; damn the environment along the way.
Electric buses were the rage many years ago...What happened to them? Yup...When GM and Standard Oil and the tire manufacturers got together, you watched the demise of the trolley car, then the electric trolley bus, to put gasoline and diesel buses on the streets.
The electric bus made its debut, but strangely disappeared. Why? Who's controlling that, and why no new mass transit electrics on the streets?
Seems technology can do anything today, except what is truly needed or wanted. Put a man in space and bring him safely home time and again, but can't get a person to work and back in an efficient and timely manner at an affordable cost, that will also be environmentally friendly.
The best transit system is useless to the masses if you can't access it easily and it won't deliver you where you need to go. And, as Caroline points out, sometimes the pain is NOT worth the gain, scenery included!
Posted by BJ | May 12, 2008 5:51 PM
Posted on May 12, 2008 17:51
Another day, another miracle! Drove to the commuter lot and parking was actually available. Took the 9:34 to downtown in 45 minutes and walked the three blocks to the waterfront and an appointment. Excellent.
Afterwards, had a great lunch and walked to the station, catching a a return train, on time, for the 45-minute trip home.
This day was the dream of all commutes, yet it centered on several unusual points:
One, it started an hour after commute time was well over.
Second, in the middle of the week it appears there "might occasionally" be a few parking spots available, according to the security officer on duty.
And, finally, the weather and traffic cooperated wonderfully in all modes.
So, there can be a great commute to be had, just not when most people need it. NCTD, time to wake up and start serving your patron's needs, and stop making excuses for lost revenue!
Posted by BJ | May 14, 2008 7:41 PM
Posted on May 14, 2008 19:41